John Lewis has pledged to offer 1,000 more jobs to young people who have experienced the care system, as the retailer expands a scheme designed to help one of the UK’s most disadvantaged groups into work.
The employee-owned retailer said it would recruit an additional 1,000 care-experienced young people by 2030, more than doubling its previous commitment.
The move comes as official figures show more than one million young people in the UK are currently not in employment, education or training (NEET) – the highest level in more than a decade.
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Care leavers are considered one of the groups most at risk of falling into long-term unemployment, as reported by Whats The Jam.
Research commissioned by the Government from former Cabinet minister Alan Milburn identified care-experienced young people as one of the four highest-risk NEET groups.
The John Lewis Partnership, which owns both John Lewis and Waitrose, launched its Building Happier Futures programme in 2022 to help young people who have grown up in foster care, children’s homes or under local authority guardianship access employment opportunities.
Since the programme began, more than 450 care-experienced young people have secured jobs through the scheme.
The retailer has also provided more than 1,700 welcome visits and 1,200 job-shadowing placements designed to help young people gain confidence and experience before applying for work.
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Under the new commitment, the Partnership plans to offer at least 250 roles each year until the end of the decade.
The jobs will be available across John Lewis and Waitrose stores, warehouses, offices and the company’s five hotels.
Many of the positions will be permanent roles, while those taking part in seasonal or fixed-term placements will receive employability training and support intended to help them move into longer-term work.
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The programme was developed with input from people who have personal experience of the care system and is supported by specially trained employees across the business.
Jason Tarry, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, said: “Retail has long offered that all-important first foot on the career ladder.
“It’s vital that we continue stepping up to support young people, especially those facing significant barriers to employment.
“As an employee-owned business, we’re able to make decisions that benefit society over shareholders, and Building Happier Futures is a shining example.
“Four years in and it’s needed more than ever, so we’re doubling down on our commitment.”
Alongside the expanded care-leaver commitment, the Partnership has also announced plans to take part in the Government’s new Jobs Guarantee scheme.
The initiative is aimed at 18 to 24-year-olds who have been claiming Universal Credit and searching for work for at least 18 months.
John Lewis said it will initially offer 30 roles within Waitrose stores as part of the pilot programme.
Participants will receive six months of paid work, training, CV support, interview preparation and mentoring designed to help them move into long-term employment.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden welcomed the announcement.
He said: “Care leavers face some of the most significant barriers to employment and that is a huge waste of talent and potential.
“John Lewis is a great British company and I welcome this commitment to roles for care-experienced young people and to our Jobs Guarantee, which shows what can be achieved when employers invest in the future of young people.”
The Government has pledged £2.5 billion towards youth employment programmes, with ministers aiming to support nearly one million young people into work, education or training opportunities.
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